->''"Get ready for Gundam like you've never seen it before! [[SuperDeformed ...Really cute and tiny!]]"''-->--'''{{Toonami}} Promo'''

''SD Gundam Force'', the SD ''officially'' standing for "Superior Defender", but also for "SuperDeformed", A term used for a long-running series of [[AffectionateParody Affectionate Parodies]], is a [[CelShading CG anime]] series based on the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' metaseries. It ran for two seasons, but ended on a full course.

The city of Neotopia is a peaceful place, where the humans live in harmony with Mobile Citizens, small robots between three and four feet tall that look a lot like Mobile Suits. A young boy named Shute finds himself at ground zero of an invasion by the Dark Axis, an army of evil (and equally tiny) robots who seem determined to turn everything to stone. He is rescued by Captain Gundam, A robot styled after the Gundams of the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Universal Century]] universe (particularly the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory GP-01]]). After beating back the invading forces, Captain suddenly shows up at Shute's house in a civilian guise, saying his commander wanted him to get experience with civilians, and he decided to start by being Shute's friend.

During the battles against the Dark Axis, Captain meets with two other warriors from parallel universes: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Zero, the Winged Knight]], a magic-using warrior from the world of Lacroa, and [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Bakunetsumaru]], A Samurai from the world of Ark.

Practically the definition of a LoveItOrHateIt series. When it first aired, ''SDGF'' was flamed to a crisp by some viewers as a LighterAndSofter perversion of ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' that ruined the franchise. However, quite a few ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' fans enjoy it because of the flashes of depth lurking beneath the cutesy exterior, ranging from extended [[MythologyGag Mythology Gags]] to deeper characterization than one normally expects from a kids' show. Two video games were produced, though the {{Playstation 2}} game is more noteworthy for introducing the dimensional pirates of [=DaScar=], [[{{Expy}} Expies]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V Gundam]]'''s villainous Zanscare Empire, as well as more Expies of more machines from the primary three worlds involved. There was also a manga retelling of the series, as well as a promotional manga called ''Manga/SDGundamForceGaiden'', neither of which were released in the US.

Now with a [[Recap/SDGundamForce recap page,]] under construction.

----!!This series contains examples of:

* AccentuateTheNegative: This series has been generally panned by many anime and gundam fans who failed to see the positive aspects.* AccidentalMisnaming: Bakunetsumaru. Guneagle spends the entire end of his debut episode trying to get his name right, and Shute's parents don't have much of an easier time with it at first. The Zako soldiers can't get it right either.* AdorableEvilMinions: Being a series were most of the characters are '''S'''uper '''D'''eformed, this is a given, [[VerbalTic zako]].* AlliterativeName: Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom...** Zapper also tends to do this when insulting people, with or without SesquipedalianLoquaciousness.* [[spoiler: AndTheAdventureContinues]]* AnimeThemeSong: Played straight in season 1's japanese intro with [[DoubleMeaningTitle Sunrise]] by PuffyAmiYumi, but averted in season 2's intro.* ArtifactOfDoom: The Demon Sword Epyon.* ArtisticLicensePhysics: You cannot hang a flying fortress from a satellite. It doesn't work that way.* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: [[spoiler: Chief Haro showing off his fighting ability in the final battle against General Zeong, which involves deflecting missiles with his ''head''.]]** Early on, Captain Gundam had an annoying habit of informing the villains that he was authorized to use weapons in defense of Neotopia. Followed by him smacking them around.** To say nothing of Commander Sazabi and General Zeong.* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Allegedly Zapper Zaku, who pretended to be loyal to the SDG after Commander Sazabi's defeat just to get a chance to destroy General Zeong for mistreating him, his companions and the Zakos.]]* BattleAura: The Gundams get these when performing team attacks. Captain gets a golden aura, Bakunetsumaru has fire, and Zero... has the background turn a weird texture of dark blue.* BadassNormal: Shute. Despite having NO combat ability aside from just being annoying(to the bad guys), he manages to help out starting with 1) Rescuing Captain and Zero when they were captured, and ending with 2) [[spoiler:Effectively destroying Zeong's Soul Drive FROM THE INSIDE, among other things.]] And that's not even counting all the times he's been threatened at swordpoint/gunpoint by the Big Bads...and he's only [[ImprobableAge ten years old]]!* BerserkButton: Bakunetsumaru flies off the handle faster than usual when Zero [[spoiler: plants flowers on him.]]** Tallgeese doesn't take kindly to his name being made fun of, either.* BigBad: Several. We start off with Zapper Zako, then his team mates, then the Commander of those guys, [[spoiler: then we get the ManBehindTheMan General Zeong...]]* BigEater: Most of, if not all of, the Musha Gundams. Bakunetsumaru makes the Daishogun 200 rice balls as a SNACK.** Zero is implied to have eaten at least one entire cake.* [[spoiler:BlackSpeech: General Zeong.]]* PowerGivesYouWings: Zero Custom, Knight of Silver Wings. [[spoiler: Captain with the power of the Superior Dragon on his side.]]* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler: The 'Zakurello Gate' and son does this at the end of the series. With the General destroyed, there's nothing stopping them from going back whatever dimension the Dark Axis stole them from.]]* CainAndAbel: [[spoiler: Professor Gerbera is Captain Gundam's "brother" Madnug post-brainwashing.]]* CerebusSyndrome: The series starts out fairly light hearted, but as it goes on it gets slightly darker and more dramatic.* TheChessmaster: Several, but Kibaomaru comes into focus as he's an avid ''shogi'' player. he even uses a giant board as a plateform in the Dark Axis base.* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: The combonation move Zapper, Grappler and Destroyer come up with, but never get to use? It's what ultimately destroys the General.]]* TheChosenOne: Not the two main characters, Captain and Shute, actually. Zero was singled out as being the one destined to save his homeland Lacroa from the petrification, which he does...with some help.* ChromaticArrangement: By their mouthpieces** Captain: Yellow** Zero: Blue** Bakunetsumaru: Red* ClipShow: Two of them. The first involves a ZanyScheme by the Zakos to get the Gundam Force to divulge their secrets under the guise of a TV interview, and the second is the Force trying to convince Genkimaru to trust them.* CombinationAttack: GUNDAM FORCE, TRIPLE ATTACK!** Also, FINAL DEADLY SCREAMING CHAOS CATASTROPHE!* CoolAirship: The Magna Musai, [[spoiler: which is later reconfigured into the Gundam Musai.]]* CoolGate: The Zakarello Gate.* CoolSword: Zero's Buster Sword, and Bakunetsumaru's katanas, one of which is a piece of Ark's Five Sacred Swords.* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: Arguably, Captain's battle with Sazabi. Though Captain gradually loses ''all'' his equipment (and even an ''arm'') he never changes composure and always seems perfectly fine, while Sazabi gradually freaks out.]]** A perfect example from the same fight is when Captain [[spoiler:grabs Sazabi's beam sabers with his, albeit charged up via his Soul Drive, bare hands. Before he squeezes hard enough to destroy the beam sabers, Sazabi lampshades this]]:-->'''Sazabi''': What!? With your bare hands!? You can't do that!-->'''Captain''': Sorry Commander, but I'm afraid I must contradict you!* CyberCyclops: The Dark Axis. [[spoiler: At least the ones that aren't Gundams.]]* DancingMookCredits: Along with nearly every other main character.* DefeatMeansFriendship: By the end of the series, [[spoiler: Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom, and even Cobramaru have defected to the 'Genki Energy Force.]] Now that I think about it, between this trope and all the cases of RedemptionEqualsDeath, only the [[BigBad Big Bad's]] of the series seem to end up dead.* DiscOneFinalBoss: We spend the entire first season under the impression that "The Commander", Sazabi, is the leader of the Dark Axis, [[spoiler: but when he's defeated we discover that he's actually subservient to Zeong.]]* TheDitz: Sayla. Come on, the girl pretty much just ignored a pitched intergalactic battle to focus on baking a cake! Although you could take her line at the end of the same episode as a sign of ObfuscatingStupidity...* EggMcGuffin: The Spirit Egg, during the Mystery of Lacroa episodes.* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Zero's undying loyalty for the queen of Lacroa, Princess Rele, is shown during his time in Neotopia when he starts calling Sayla "Princess".* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai: If Bakumetsumaru wasn't enough... all of Arc!* ExactlyWhatIAimedAt - Zero [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks tosses his sword]] while locked in a nosediving tackle with Tallgeese, causing a rock suspended overhead to crash down and leaving his enemy to be smashed into the Dark Hole after his friends pull him out of danger.* {{Expy}}: Locations are Expies of something from a standard ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' timeline crossed with a SD Gundam series, save for the villain locations.** Neotopia = Earth Federation (''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' through ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'')+Command Chronicles.** Dark Axis = Zeon/Neo Zeon (likewise)** Lacroa = ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Gundam Wing]]'' + Knight Gundam** Ark = ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'' + Musha Gundam** [=DaScar=] from the {{Playstation 2}} game = [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Zanscare Empire]]* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: Deed to Deathscythe]].** Zapper Zaku was actually a nice guy before the events of the series as told in the side story manga, [[spoiler: however, when his friend was killed, he became the trigger happy villain we know and love to hate]]*** [[spoiler: This effectively gave more meaning to his attack against General Zeong]]* FaceShip: The bridges of the Magna-Musai and later the Gundamusai are Zaku and Gundam themed faces, as well as the Zako Zako Hour stage inside.* FastballSpecial: Episode 12, Captain and Bakunetsumaru. When you need to get out of an abyss and only one of you has jetpacks...* FauxAffablyEvil: Tallgeese, who is delightfully [[LargeHam hammy]] and at one point does a little dance and song.* [[FiveBadBand Four Bad Band]]: The enemies end up this way at the end of the series.** The BigBad: Commander Sazabi[[spoiler:/General Zeong]]** TheDragon: Zapper Zaku[[spoiler:/Commander Sazabi/]]** The EvilGenius: Grappler Gouf[[spoiler:/Professor Gerbera/Madnug/]]** The Brute: Destroyer Dom* FourIsDeath: In season one, Commander Sazabi has the Four Doga Commandos acting as his personal Dragons during the Invasion of Neotopia. [[spoiler: While Dogas Blue, Purple and Green were each destroyed by a member of the Gundam Force, Doga Grey was personally wiped out by Sazabi himself. In Ark, Kibaomaru has his Kibao Horde, a quartet of Musha Gundams that guard his castle. Those four, however, survive their battles.]]* FutureBadass: The BrattyHalfPint Genkimaru grows up to become [[spoiler: the Dai-Shogun of Perfect Virtue.]]* GadgeteerGenius: Shute; his inventions include robot-strength superglue, a voice imitator, magnetic rollerblades with jet boosters, and a rocket-powered kite.* GoldfishPoopGang: Zapper's gang end up this way by season 2. In the last 26 episodes, they only menace the Gundam Force three times (And one of those times was by accident), and spend the rest of the episodes being bounced around by fate and circumstance.-->'''Bakunetsumaru''': ''(Tiredly)'' Them, again?* HannibalLecture: [[spoiler: Sazabi and Gerbera gives these to Shute and Captain, respectively. Sazabi claims that 'there is only those who rule, and those who are ruled!' while Gerbera's lecture can be summarized as HumansAreBastards.]] They are both told to ShutUpHannibal;--->[[PowerOfFriendship Shute]]: We don't rule anyone and we wont be ruled by anyone! Not ever! We're all friends! Friends living together!--->[[RobotBuddy Captain]]: Those of us with Soul Drives are ''meant'' to be with humans!* HarmlessVillain -> QuirkyMiniBossSquad: Zako, Grappler, and Dom.* HelpingHands: General Zeong just might have the LARGEST Helping Hands in fiction.* HulkSpeak: DOM MAKE THEM GO BOOM!* IncomingHam: Mostly Musha Gundams and certain characters from Lacroa. The Dai-Shogun's is particularly epic.--->"From as far away as Ark, I sensed the energy of two mighty souls in conflict. Are you the two who seek honor in a trial by combat? Know you then who asks this question of you. It is I, Lord of Swords! The Dai-Shogun of Ark! Warrior of Perfect Virtue!"* InstantRunes: Zero's Magic. Surprisingly solid, too.* InverseNinjaLaw: The Zako Soldiers, Pawn Leos, and Zakobusshi make up the backbone of the Dark Axis, and yet they're either incredibly incompetent or incredibly weak when met with opponents nowhere close to even a ''twentieth'' of their numbers* InvisibilityCloak: The Pawn Leos employ some sort of invisibility talismans that are not securely adhered and come off whenever they take a hit.** Cobramaru has some sort of cloaking ability that he can use with or without his cobra hood.* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Chief Haro originally tries to keep Captain away from Shute because his inter-dimensional activity could put the boy in danger. They both decide against it, the Chief after realizing Captain needs Shute to activate the Soul Drive, and the Captain when he realizes Shute is his friend.* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: It's ironic this Gundam show is always being accused of ruining the franchise, though. Just look at Zapper Zako and Dom.* {{Leitmotif}}: Each division of the Dark Axis gets a theme that plays whenever they cause havoc.* LighterAndSofter: In comparison to other ''Gundam'' series... until it hits the CerebusSyndrome.* LoveMakesYouEvil: See the FaceHeelTurn spoiler.* MidSeasonUpgrade: Captain Gundam's Hyper upgrade in season 2.* MindRape: [[spoiler: The General's specialty.]]* TheMole: Rare villain-on-villain version: [[spoiler:Zako Red is strongly implied to be nothing more than a dummy body for Sazabi, as seen when Red goes inert after handing Sazabi the Soul Drive and is unceremoniously disposed of.]]** [[spoiler:Not to mention they have the exact same voice, and Zako Red seems to force his "Zako" tic rather than it being an actual tic]]* {{Mooks}}: The Zakos Pawn Leos and Zakobusshi.** Ironically, the subtrope of MechaMooks is subverted. While the Zakos are nearly indistinguishable from each other and act as grunts, none of them are ever portrayed as dying onscreen, and are instead just bashed aside with no harm outside of a concussion and comically missing armor.* MoreDakka: Dom's Gallop trailer is filled with a ridiculous amount of guns that all fire at once on command. [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy Of course, they rarely, if ever, hit something.]]* [[MyHeroZero My Hero Zero, the Winged Knight]]* MythologyGag: Practically built into the premise. Some are more obvious than others, for instance Gerbera's [[spoiler: true identity as Captain Gundam's brother]] is based on the fact that [[spoiler: the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory Gerbera Tetra]] was based off of the rejected Gundam GP-04 (and in fact, the Gerbera Tetra Kai IS the GP-04 with armor covering the Gundam-y parts), while Captain Gundam and his various upgrades are based on the GP-01 and GP-03.]]** The Pawn Leos have a more subtle example in the form of their incredible weakness. Simply tripping breaks the spell that animates them, referencing their original counterparts' shoddy construction.** Subverted with Gunbike being Captain's teacher instead of Command Gundam.** Also subverted with Superior Dragon [[spoiler: Who instead of being a gundam split into two separate gundams is an actual dragon that is a spirit, who is the combined form of Fenn and Steel Dragon. He is also never properly seen on screen. Although, the fusions between Zero and Fenn and Deed and Steel Dragon are reminiscent of (Vassal) Knight Gundam and Satan Gundam.]]** In a non-character example, the mobile castle Tenchijo is reminiscent of White Base.* NeverSayDie: The English dub tries to hide the fact that Cobramaru attempts ''seppuku'' after his defeat in Season 2.** Averts it earlier during the Ashuramaru episodes.* NonIndicativeName: The Zako Zako Hour, which only runs for a few minutes. * NotSoDifferent: Sazabi tries this on Captain near the end of their fight [[spoiler: when it's revealed Sazabi has a Soul Drive like Captain's, only filled with darkness]], culminating in asking Captain to join the Dark Axis. Captain's response?-->'''Captain''': If you want a friend, [[ShutUpHannibal you'll have to do better than that!]]* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Many of the villains are very comical, but can prove themselves to be very strong. Prime example is Tallgeese, who is comically mocked by Shute when he first appears, but then right afterward curbstomps everyone.* ObfuscatingStupidity: Shute's father, Mark, appears to be a laid-back guitarist with a penchant for bad hippie music, but is strongly implied to be [[spoiler: the leader of the SDG, Chief Haro.]] May also apply to Sayla; there have been two instances of her experiencing the intergalactic battles from the front seat, but she never lets on that she knows what's happening...** [[spoiler: Also, Zapper, possibly. He ''claims'' to have been faking his happy janitor routine...]]* OmnicidalManiac: The General. Possibly the only villain in Gundam history who wants to wipe out the entire ''multiverse.''* PaperThinDisguise: The Zako soldiers. Put a wig and some camera gear on them and they'll pass for reporters...well, at least to Bakunetsumaru.* PostScriptSeason: Season 2.* ThePowerOfFriendship: What Captain needs to activate the Soul Drive, and a major theme of the series.** Of course, the power of friendship can't stop Zero from [[SomethingAboutARose screwing]] with [[BerserkButton Bakumetsumaru.]]* PowerTrio: Twice.** SD Force*** Ego: Captain*** Superego: Zero*** Id: Bakunetsumaru** Dark Axis*** Ego: Zaku*** Superego: Gouf*** Id: Dom* PsychoRangers: The Dark Axis trio are generally considered opposites of the main three Gundams (Captain/Zapper, Zero/Grappler, Bakunetsumaru/Destroyer), but it isn't until episode 30 that Genkimaru becomes, temporarily, their equivalent of Shute.* RacingTheTrain: Shute's first appearence, mostly to show off his rocket skates to the audience. Justified in that he's a kid who's playing around.* [[spoiler: RebelliousPrincess: Rele. She's a bit of a brat at first and eager to spend time with the Gundam Force, especially Shute.]]* RedemptionEqualsDeath: At first subverted with [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru's friend, Kujakumaru/Ashuramaru,]] who turns against him because he refuses to follow this trope. Later played straight when [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru is forced to kill him. And later still when Tallgeese sacrifices himself to free Fenn from Deathscythe's magical cage]]. And depending on whether you're watching the anime or reading the manga, [[spoiler: Gerbera/Madnug at the end.]]* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Dark Axis.[[spoiler:.. who can't be taken literally for all of Season 1.]]* RedOniBlueOni: With the proper colors:** Bakunetsumaru the hotheaded samurai, and Zero, the levelheaded knight. Zero has the longer fuse of the two, but he spends off time picking on Bakunetsumaru.** Zapper Zaku, the blustering bulky red robot, and Grappler Gouf, the smooth talking sleeker design.* RentAZilla: Musha Daishinsho.* RidiculouslyCuteCritter / SmallAnnoyingCreature: Fenn. One second he's all snuggly and cute, the next second he's ruining your hard culinary work or breathing fire in your face.* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Princess Rele, upon being de-petrified, decides that she will ''not'' just sit on the sidelines, and uses her magic to aid the Gundam Force to great effect.* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Captain came very close to saying this to Cheif Haro in episode 2, when he told him he wanted to hang out with Shute. But he chickened out at the last moment.* SecretIdentity: Captain's 'civilian' mode. Zero and Bakunetsumaru don't have any, but the Mayor [[HandWave Hand Waves]] it by saying they're actors. They no longer need the identities after [[spoiler: the Big Zam brings down Blanc Base, and the Gundam Force's existence is revealed.]] It's also strongly implied that Chief Haro is really [[spoiler: Shute's father, Mark.]]* ShoutOut: [[Film/ApocalypseNow "I love the smell of concrete in the morning."]]** Zero summoned [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid a cardboard box labeled for storing oranges]] in an episode where a pawn leo was sneaking around while invisible, only being seen when he picked it up. The box returned in the second season in an episode where Destroyer Dom and Grappler Gouf were sneaking around in cardboard boxes with holes cut out for them to see which had the same exact label and markings.*** Cobramaru's cloaking ability might be another MGS reference(as he is a snake-themed robot), though it was never explained what method he used.* ShowWithinAShow: The Zako Zako Hour.** Later on, the Pawn Leos try this with the Pawn Pawn Hour in one episode, and Zakobusshi take over this role when the cast lands in Ark.* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: "Cynicism"? [[SugarBowl What's that?]]* TheSpock - Captain, especially in the earlier episodes. His lack of comprehension for facets of humanity others take for granted also makes him TheComicallySerious* StableTimeLoop: [[spoiler: Madnug/Gerbera is the victim of one of these, depending on whether or not the [=SDGF=] thought one life was worth changing the timeline for. Then again, the vision of the future Shute saw thanks to the Superior Dragon may have been real.]]** [[spoiler: The Daishougun of Perfect Virtue helped Genkimaru get the bridge of the Gundamusai to the Ark from a distance, without Genkimaru seeing him]]* SummonMagic / SummoningRitual: Tallgeese with the Griffon, and later [[spoiler: Zero with the Feather Dragon.]]* SuperSentaiStance: The gundam force does one when introducing themselves to Genkimaru.* SupportingLeader: Captain Gundam* SurroundedByIdiots: Commander Sazabi, or Grappler depending on the mission.* SynchronizedSwarming: The Bagu-Bagu do this.* TakenForGranite: The Bagu-Bagu turn organic matter to stone. [[spoiler: Inverted later on.]]** Princess Rele suffers this.* TeenGenius: Bell Wood and Shute.* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Zapper, Grappler and Destroyer.* TerribleTrio: Zapper, Grappler, and Destroyer become one of these.* ThatsAllFolks: The ending of the [[GrandFinale final episode]].* TookALevelInBadass: Shute gets an upgraded arsenal in the second season, with a booster backpack and a glue shooter included.* UnfortunateNames: Tallgeese, which is kind of odd considering the names the rest of the Dark Axis run around with. So much so that Shute can't resist pointing and laughing when he introduces himself.** Does //not// help that his armor has what seems to be a rooster comb on the top of it...* VerbalTic: The Zakos, zako! The Pawn Leos also seem to say 'Pawn' at times, and the Zakarello Gate usually throws in guttural 'rello's to his sentences. In fact this is often the only line he speaks in an episode.** In Ark, the Zakobusshi say Busshi.* WaveMotionGun: The cannons on the Magna Musai.* WorldTree: the Spirit Tree of Lacroa is so big that the royal family had its castle built around it, and the town is built on its roots. It was TakenForGranite by the Dark Axis, and the first we hear of it is when the Dark Axis is trying to revive it for some reason. [[spoiler: In the series' second half we learn that the Tree can create Spirit Eggs that give birth to sacred spirits and Knight Gundams. This power was sealed off by the royal family so the Dark Axis couldn't use it to sacrifice Knight Gundams to the General. After the Dark Axis is defeated for good and Lacroa is un-petrified, Princess Rele undoes the seal.]]* YouGotSpunk: And just so happens that Tallgeese absolutely '''''loathes''''' spunk!* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: The Commander threatens this trope on Zapper's group, ultimately deciding to stop relying on them as the first season goes on, calling for reinforcements from Dark Axis forces in Ark and Lacroa. Their very last mission results in the three of them getting trapped under Blanc Base. In the second season, Kibaomaru gets fed up with Cobramaru's failures and just discharges him, and in an inversion of this trope, ''refuses to let him have an honorable death''.* ZenSurvivor: the Dai-Shogun of Perfect Virtue.----